Hamas has lost four out of its five foremost leaders to Israeli attacks, with the latest being Yahya Sinwar, who was killed on October 16.
The series of assassinations began in March 2004, when Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Just a month later, his successor, Abdul Aziz al-Rantisi, was also killed in a similar strike.
In July, Israeli forces targeted the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was in Tehran for the Iranian president’s inauguration, killing him.
Yahya Sinwar became the leader of Hamas after Haniyeh’s death, but Israeli forces also killed him on October 16. Hamas confirmed his death, and deputy leader Khalil al-Hayya praised his bravery.
In Qatar, Khaled Meshaal is the only surviving Hamas leader from the 2004-2017 leadership era.
Israeli forces have also killed other key figures, including Saleh al-Arouri, who died in a drone strike in Beirut in January. Earlier, in 1996, Israeli forces killed Hamas military leader Yahya Ayyash in Gaza.
